Gangster's bail plea rejected

Mumbai, June 7 (UNI) A local court here today rejected the bail plea of Rakesh Walekar, a former associate of gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli, who is embroiled in a murder case.

While rejecting the bail application, Additional Sessions Judge A T Amlekar held that a prima facie case has been made out against the accused. A confessional statement by a co-accused also reveals his name, the court observed, while rejecting the plea.

Additional public prosecutor Dilip Shah told the court that Rakesh Walekar had taken over the reins of the Pandu Putra gang in 2003 after the death of his brother Deepak Pandurang Walekar, who headed the outfit and was associated with the Arun Gawli gang.

Sheru Dayaram Chourasiya, who was a member of the gang, had reformed and disassociated himself from the illegal activities of the outfit. This was, however, not taken kindly by the other members who threatened him against breaking the alliance, but Sheru did not heed the threats.

Thereafter, Rakesh Walekar and his accomplices allegedly hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Sheryu and the plan was allegedly carried out by Dinesh Alve and others on February 4 this year. Sheru was shot dead near a store at Girgaon here.

In this case, Rakesh Walekar, Dinesh Alve, Anil Bhuwad, Pramod Dhotre, Pratap Pande and Laxman alias Bhauja were arrested during the first week of March.